BIOLOGY 201: CHAPTER 3 - CELL STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
1. What is the term for all the chemical reactions that a cell carries out
to maintain life?
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Anabolism
D) Catabolism
Correct Answer: A) Metabolism
Rationale: Metabolism is the collective term for all chemical reactions
occurring within a cell that are necessary for life, including both
synthesis and breakdown of molecules.
2. Which structure regulates the exchange between the cell and its
environment and provides structural support?
A) Nuclear envelope
B) Cell wall
C) Plasma membrane
D) Cytoplasm
Correct Answer: C) Plasma membrane
Rationale: The plasma membrane is the outer boundary of the cell that
controls what enters and leaves, while also providing physical isolation
and support.
,3. The fluid found outside the cell is known as:
A) Cytosol
B) Intracellular fluid
C) Extracellular fluid
D) Plasma
Correct Answer: C) Extracellular fluid
Rationale: Extracellular fluid is the body fluid located outside of cells,
providing a stable environment for the cell.
4. What is the fluid located inside the cell called?
A) Interstitial fluid
B) Intracellular fluid
C) Extracellular fluid
D) Lymph
Correct Answer: B) Intracellular fluid
Rationale: Intracellular fluid is the liquid found within the cell, also
known as cytosol when referring to the fluid portion of the cytoplasm.
5. What term describes the contents inside the plasma membrane,
including the cytosol and organelles?
A) Nucleoplasm
B) Cytoplasm
C) Extracellular matrix
D) Protoplasm
Correct Answer: B) Cytoplasm
Rationale: The cytoplasm includes all the material inside the plasma
membrane, excluding the nucleus, comprising the cytosol and the
organelles.
,6. A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the
cell is known as a(n):
A) Tissue
B) Organ
C) Organelle
D) Inclusion
Correct Answer: C) Organelle
Rationale: Organelles are specialized subunits within a cell that perform
distinct functions necessary for cellular life.
7. What consists of long protein filaments that support the cell and
help maintain its shape?
A) Cytoplasm
B) Cytoskeleton
C) Endoplasmic reticulum
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: B) Cytoskeleton
Rationale: The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments that
provides structural support, facilitates movement, and aids in
intracellular transport.
8. Which membrane-bound organelle houses most of the cell's DNA
and controls many cellular functions?
A) Mitochondria
B) Nucleus
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Correct Answer: B) Nucleus
Rationale: The nucleus is the control center of the cell, containing the
majority of the cell's genetic material and regulating gene expression.
, 9. The plasma and organelle membranes are primarily composed of a:
A) Protein monolayer
B) Phospholipid bilayer
C) Carbohydrate layer
D) Cholesterol barrier
Correct Answer: B) Phospholipid bilayer
Rationale: A phospholipid bilayer forms the fundamental structure of all
cellular membranes, providing a barrier that is selectively permeable.
10. What are the main components of the plasma membrane besides
phospholipids?
A) Nucleic acids
B) Membrane proteins
C) Carbohydrates only
D) Lipids only
Correct Answer: B) Membrane proteins
Rationale: Membrane proteins are critical components embedded
within or associated with the phospholipid bilayer, carrying out various
functions like transport and signaling.
11. Proteins that are embedded in the membrane and may span its
entire width are called:
A) Peripheral proteins
B) Integral proteins
C) Glycoproteins
D) Channel proteins
Correct Answer: B) Integral proteins
Rationale: Integral proteins are firmly embedded in the lipid bilayer;
those that span the entire membrane are called transmembrane
proteins.
FUNCTION EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
1. What is the term for all the chemical reactions that a cell carries out
to maintain life?
A) Metabolism
B) Homeostasis
C) Anabolism
D) Catabolism
Correct Answer: A) Metabolism
Rationale: Metabolism is the collective term for all chemical reactions
occurring within a cell that are necessary for life, including both
synthesis and breakdown of molecules.
2. Which structure regulates the exchange between the cell and its
environment and provides structural support?
A) Nuclear envelope
B) Cell wall
C) Plasma membrane
D) Cytoplasm
Correct Answer: C) Plasma membrane
Rationale: The plasma membrane is the outer boundary of the cell that
controls what enters and leaves, while also providing physical isolation
and support.
,3. The fluid found outside the cell is known as:
A) Cytosol
B) Intracellular fluid
C) Extracellular fluid
D) Plasma
Correct Answer: C) Extracellular fluid
Rationale: Extracellular fluid is the body fluid located outside of cells,
providing a stable environment for the cell.
4. What is the fluid located inside the cell called?
A) Interstitial fluid
B) Intracellular fluid
C) Extracellular fluid
D) Lymph
Correct Answer: B) Intracellular fluid
Rationale: Intracellular fluid is the liquid found within the cell, also
known as cytosol when referring to the fluid portion of the cytoplasm.
5. What term describes the contents inside the plasma membrane,
including the cytosol and organelles?
A) Nucleoplasm
B) Cytoplasm
C) Extracellular matrix
D) Protoplasm
Correct Answer: B) Cytoplasm
Rationale: The cytoplasm includes all the material inside the plasma
membrane, excluding the nucleus, comprising the cytosol and the
organelles.
,6. A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the
cell is known as a(n):
A) Tissue
B) Organ
C) Organelle
D) Inclusion
Correct Answer: C) Organelle
Rationale: Organelles are specialized subunits within a cell that perform
distinct functions necessary for cellular life.
7. What consists of long protein filaments that support the cell and
help maintain its shape?
A) Cytoplasm
B) Cytoskeleton
C) Endoplasmic reticulum
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: B) Cytoskeleton
Rationale: The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments that
provides structural support, facilitates movement, and aids in
intracellular transport.
8. Which membrane-bound organelle houses most of the cell's DNA
and controls many cellular functions?
A) Mitochondria
B) Nucleus
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Correct Answer: B) Nucleus
Rationale: The nucleus is the control center of the cell, containing the
majority of the cell's genetic material and regulating gene expression.
, 9. The plasma and organelle membranes are primarily composed of a:
A) Protein monolayer
B) Phospholipid bilayer
C) Carbohydrate layer
D) Cholesterol barrier
Correct Answer: B) Phospholipid bilayer
Rationale: A phospholipid bilayer forms the fundamental structure of all
cellular membranes, providing a barrier that is selectively permeable.
10. What are the main components of the plasma membrane besides
phospholipids?
A) Nucleic acids
B) Membrane proteins
C) Carbohydrates only
D) Lipids only
Correct Answer: B) Membrane proteins
Rationale: Membrane proteins are critical components embedded
within or associated with the phospholipid bilayer, carrying out various
functions like transport and signaling.
11. Proteins that are embedded in the membrane and may span its
entire width are called:
A) Peripheral proteins
B) Integral proteins
C) Glycoproteins
D) Channel proteins
Correct Answer: B) Integral proteins
Rationale: Integral proteins are firmly embedded in the lipid bilayer;
those that span the entire membrane are called transmembrane
proteins.
